Resilience in Healthcare Insights
Challenge
With extreme weather events on the rise, healthcare owners are prioritizing the resiliency of their buildings. Turner’s Healthcare Group, preconstruction teams, and dedicated sustainability specialists have partnered with design and engineering teams to offer clients climate resilience analysis and solutions that align with clients’ priorities, budget and schedule goals.
The MGH Phillip and Susan Ragon project is a 1.9 million sq. ft. redevelopment project in a joint venture with Walsh Brothers. MGH is committed to sustainability; the project will provide a 90% reduction in emissions compared to a baseline code building. Designed by NBBJ, the two new buildings will meet Boston’s carbon reduction goals for 2050.
When complete, the towers will be able to maintain operations as a “96-hour island” under shelter in place provisions. Vice President & Construction Executive Brian Chase shares, “We have witnessed weather events which have impacted our hospitals’ ability to operate, jeopardizing the healthcare of patients. It is imperative we properly manage the design and construction of resiliency
Massachusetts General Hospital
Phillip and Susan Ragon Building Boston, MA
elements in our new healthcare facilities to minimize these impacts and to provide an ability to function without compromise.”
The local estimating team provided feedback to risk assessment reviews developed by the design team. Each assessment is categorized by a potential climate hazard that is likely to be a business operations disruptor (i.e. wind, flood, heat) with unique studies on impact to building systems. Our estimators advised on suggested resiliency components with associated costs, benefits, and challenges. Specific areas of focus for the MGH project included reinforcement for windspeeds, design optimization on infrastructure, and flood barriers.
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC) Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital (Formerly Coney Island Hospital) Brooklyn, NY
The Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital (formerly Coney Island Hospital) was designed with resilient features after Superstorm Sandy incapacitated the original building in 2012. In a joint venture with McKissack & McKissack, Turner provided construction management services for capital improvements. The FEMA-funded project entails the new construction of a 10-story 347,000 sq. ft. addition, 40,000 sq. ft. of interior renovations, and demolishing damaged structures.
Measures to protect the hospital include installation of a 2,300 LF of floodwall comprised of metal sheet Z-piles encased in concrete and 31 different flood gates that aim to protect the campus from a FEMA 500-year flood. The emergency room was relocated to the second floor and the MEP utility equipment raised to the 5th floor to protect critical spaces and equipment from storm surge. During construction, the team installed temporary Hesco barriers and elevated the temporary electrical service to increase flood resilience and protect the active project.
TURNER RESOURCES:
Monika Serrano, Resilience Program Manager
Turner’s Sustainability and Resiliency Group offers resources for project teams assisting clients and designers with resiliency planning. Click the below links for more information.
Resilience Project Database
Jobsite Resilience Assessment
Precon Resilience Resources